Psalm 13

Psalm 13 – How Long?

It is a difficult psalm for interpretation. The first two verses begin with 4 questions. Or ONE question, repeated four times: HOW LONG? 

How long? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face? (Numbers 6:24-26)

How long must I take counsel in my soul (being self-taught) and have sorrow in my heart all the day? 

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

In a square shaped world (four corners), every corner of psalmist’s life is in distress. He feels that God forgot about him and hides His face. There is no other source of comfort but his own soul, but his heart (decision making organ) is in distress. Then the worst comes: his enemies exalt over him – they feel victorious!

We face these kinds of situations in our lives: when friends fail us, spouses are very sick, or there is a threat of losing a job with nowhere to go… All of these feelings resurface one after another…

But ultimately, this is what Jesus experienced on the Cross – My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46). There is no inner source of comfort – for death is near (cp. v. 3b, sleep of death). And enemies were sure of their glorious victory.  

Reaction to “absence” of God – prayer

David wants to stay “in touch” with God: consider and answer… as a result of this communication – light up my eyes! Make my eyes shine – the second part of the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26).

Then come three “lest”

Lest I sleep the sleep of death

Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

Lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

The ultimate collapse – death – is a threat to the psalmist. The way it is written tells that it is not the final and peaceful rest (that’s why Christians write Rest in Peace [RiP]). It is an expectation of distress, collapse, and separation from God.

This might look like enemies prevailed… That the psalmist is shaking – unstable… 

But in the midst of his troubles his confession is strong:

I trusted in Your steadfast love.

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. God is the One who restores – us on our paths, life to life eternal, even the Son of God was brought back to live, to ascension, to sit at the right hand of the Father. 

I will sing to the LORD – worthy to note that there is a shift from proclaiming in Revelation 4 to singing in Revelation 5, just as the Lamb comes to the Throne of God. 

Because He has dealt bountifully with me – when we talk to other people about God, His love and care for us we share our personal interaction with Him. How blesses us day after day, providing food, roof, clothing etc. And never leaving us, no forsaking – regardless of how we feel…  

PSALM 117

All nations praise the LORD.

Only two lines – but such a deep meaning. Allow me to walk you through.

v. 1a. Praise the LORD, all nations!

We have a glorious beginning – Hallelujah “Living ONE”! God is not called by His status; He is called by His name. Israel God is called by the name, but He is called by the Gentiles.

In the light of current political events, it is an important reminder that at the end ALL nations will recognize Jesus as Lord of the world. It will be done because the disciples will bring the Good News to all the nations – Matthew 28:18-20. Baptizing people and instructing them in faith. St. Paul uses this verse as a “proof-text” for the mission of Christ – Romans 15:11 (Let’s read!)   

v. 1b, Extol Him, all peoples!

Psalmist “doubles down” – he encourages all the peoples to extol Him. Exclaim with the loud voices, keep triumphant praise.

Together the unity of all nations and all peoples means everyone with distinction and without exception. The Book of Revelation puts it in four categories: nations, tribes, peoples, and languages. Together with believers from Israel they will worship the Lamb Who sits on the Throne (Rev. 7:1-10). 

What a glorious picture!!  

It is a long-awaited fulfilment of the prophecies:

2 Samuel 22:50 – glory to His name among Gentiles (a psalm sang by king David by the end of his life).

Isaiah 11:10 – the root of Jessy will give a hope to Gentiles. 

Isaiah 2:2-4 (note nations and peoples in v. 4) – do you know where the statue dedicated to this verse is located?

Also psalm 72:11,17 has the same ideas – kings of their nations fall before Him and serve Him (compare to Psalm 2:1-12). 

 

v. 2a, For great is His steadfast love toward us,

Great here has two meanings: (1) it is great in fullness (extended to all nations, see above); (2) it is great in intensity (covering all sins and faults), it is true on global and personal level: Romans 5:20-21 and 1 Timothy 1:12-14.

 Steadfast love – a word [hesed] which is very difficult for translation. We’ve talked about it last time (Psalm 118:1,29). It also can include mercy, grace etc. Most importantly, we need to pay attention “steadfast” aspect of “love” – along with other aspects of the meaning it should include “faithfulness.” God is faithful to His promises, covenants, and prophecies. We can rely on the fact of our forgiveness through Jesus, guidance by the Holy Spirit, and promise of heavenly haven prepared for us by the Son of God.  

 

v. 2b, And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Faithfulness is a good translation; we also see it in Lamentations 3:22-23. It is a background for the hymn “great is Thy faithfulness.”

At the same time, we can add something: this word is related to very famous Hebrew word that all of you know – guess which one?

Jesus uses double of the word 25 times in the Gospel of John (for example 3:3; 5:24; 13:20). Using these doubles signifies that the words of Jesus are “really true.”   

Conclusion: Praise the Lord (Alleluia!)

The term denotes being clear (pure) sound and color, therefore “to show off [in a good sense], shine, or boast”

Think of the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (see the background in Jeremiah 9:23-24).

He is worthy to be praised, to be boasted about! He redeemed us!

Soli Deo Gloria – Glory be to God Alone!

Beatitudes: Introduction

Beatitudes and our attitudes

Lesson 1: Introduction

 

1. Four faces

            Ox, Lion, Eagle, Man

2. Four Gospels

            Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

3. Five discourses in the Gospel of Matthew

            a. 5 – 7 Sermon on the Mountain

            b. 10 Teaching for the 12 to share the Good News              

            c. 13 Parables of the Kingdom

            d. 18 New Social Order

            e. 23 – 25 Olivet Sermon

 

4. Mount Sinai and the Sermon on the Mountain

            a. Place of the Gift

            b. Presentation of the Gift

            c. Description of the Gift

 

HOMEWORK (!)

1. Read Mt. 5:1-12.

2. Think of the meaning of “poor” in the First blessing (v. 3). Cp. Mt. 11:5, 19-23-25; Is. 61:1.

Advent Readings: Luke 3

Luke 3

The life of Jesus is intertwined with the life and rule of earthly authorities. The chapter begins with a historical setting: 15^th year of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was a governor of Judea, two Herodian brothers rule the territories of Galilee, Iturea and Trachonitis etc. Then, right before a description of Jesus’ baptism, St. Luke goes into a historical “jump” – incarceration of John the Baptizer by Herod (royal character). Then the chapter ends with the genealogy of Jesus.

There are many debates over genealogy itself and its difference from the one in Matthew. I think it is the “royal” context that unlocks the mystery of Lukian presentation. Unlike Herod or his brother Philip, who track their authorities to Rome, and even Caesar whose power doesn’t go further then a couple of centuries, the Royal authority of Jesus goes beyond the human appointments or people’s approval. His royal status goes back to God himself (Lk. 3:38).

That’s why when the voice comes from heaven saying “You are my beloved son,” the combination of Gen. 22:1 and Psalm 2, we should understand it as a statement of Divine inauguration of the King of kings and the LORD of lords!        

Matthew 21:23-46

 Matthew 21:23-46

Structure:

1. A. 23-27, High Priests, Elders, fear for the prophet’s status 

2.    B. 28-32, Parable 1: two [disrespectful] sons

3.    B’. 33-44, Parable 2: bad tenants

4. A’. 45-46, High Priest, Elders, fear for the prophet’s status  

Matthew 11:25-26

Text:

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Chiastic structure: 

Intro - Jesus declared (ESV)

1. a. I thank you, Father

2.   b. hidden from the wide and understanding

3.   b'. revealed to little children (ESV) 

4. a'. Father's gracious will

A Couple of Thoughts:

The fact that God revealed Himself to the babies (KJV) or infants has great implications. First, It is the will of the Father to open Himself up/to reveal Himself to everybody - including infants. It is truly gracious will - not based on achievements of "the wise and understanding" (as structure points out the contrast between the two). Jeffrey A. Gibbs in his commentary on Matthew (Matthew 11:2 - 20:34, CPH, 2010, p. 587), "That is to say, "infants" are people who are unable and insufficient in themselves to accomplish anything good." As latter St. Paul will state in his letter to Ephesians (2:8): for by grace you have been saved.

The fact that the understanding of the role of the Messiah in the world (note the answer [v. 25] to the question that the disciples of John the Baptizer brought to Jesus [v. 11:2-3]) means that on their own level that - infants - take it by faith. If this revelation is accepted by them, then there is no reason children should not be baptized!        

 

     

   

Matthew

Gospel of Matthew   

Title: Gospel of Matthew. Gospel – Good News. Matthew – gift of YHWH  

Date of writing: 40 AD

Date of Narrative: From Abraham (1:1) [also see the ADaM structure in 1:1] to commissioning the 11 disciples after Resurrection (28:20).  

Structure:

a. Historical narrative of birth and early ministry, ch. 1 – 4  

I. First Discourse (5:1 – 7:28), Sermon on the Mountain

   b. Historical narrative of healing and cleansings, 8:1 – 9:34  

II. Second Discourse (9:35 – 11:1), Apostolic authority and martyrdom

      c. Historical narrative of lordship over the creation, 11:2 – 12:45

III. Third Discourse (12:46 – 13:53), Parables of the Kingdom

      c’. Historical narrative of lordship over the creation, 13:54 – 17:27

IV. Fourth Discourse (18:1 – 19:1), Rules for the Church

   b’. Historical narrative of healing the social brokenness, 19:2 – 22:40  

V. Fifth Discourse (22:41 – 26:1), End times 

a’. Historical narrative of Arrest, Death, and Resurrection, 26:2 – 28:20   

Main themes:

Jesus as a Priest – the one who teaches and maintains the boundaries of the Kingdom.

“As it is written” – the fulfillment of the prophesies, typologies, and allusions.    

Main Characters:

Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist, 12 disciples, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, Herod(s), Guards. 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Jesus as a New and Greater Moses  

	Event	Life of Moses	Jesus in Matthew
1	Miraculous birth	Ex. 2	Mt. 1
2	Danger after being born	Ex. 2	Mt. 2
3	Commissioning to the Ministry	Ex. 3	Mt. 3
4	Teaching on the mountain	Ex. 20	Mt. 5-7
5	Establishing the Kingdom	Numbers	Mt. 13
6	Teaching on the Rules of the community	Deuteronomy	Mt. 18-19
7	Last words on the plain	Deuteronomy	Mt. 26-27
8	Last scene on the mountain	Deuteronomy	Mt. 28:16-20

Lutheran teaching:

16:15-19 on confession of Peter is discussed in “Power and Primacy of the Pope” [7-31] giving the Testimony of Scripture, Testimony of History, including the quotes from holy Church Fathers: Origen, Cyprian, Augustine, Hilary, and Bede. Also with an opinion of Chrysostom. 

28:18 is a basis for the authority and power of Jesus Christ discussing the presence of the body and the blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar. The Book of Concord gives examples of correct and incorrect interpretations (cp. FC, Epitome, VIII:16, 34, 39). 

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 357 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel  

We Three Kings – not found in the Lutheran hymnals

Relevancy of the Book:

Gospel of Matthew is an important bridge between the Old Testament (with its prophesies and Torah settings) and Theology of New Testament – which is based on the figure, ministry, and achievements of Jesus Christ who fulfilled them.

Only Gospel of Matthew (in the New Testament) presents Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 which presents Him as a son of the Virgin Mary and the embodiment of “God-with-us”. Also, only the Gospel talks about the visit of the Wisemen to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, showing how the Nations will come to worship the Messiah of Israel.     

Memory verses:

16:16-17 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon, Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who are in heaven.”